Madison County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Madison County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 78th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $253 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Only 38 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $149,000 on 22 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Madison County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 41.5 | $7M | ||
| Tornado | 43.9 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 51.6 | $758K | ||
| Cold wave | 28.3 | $500K | ||
| Earthquake | 55.6 | $485K | ||
| Hail | 50.6 | $350K | ||
| Ice storm | 69.2 | $277K | ||
| Lightning | 43.5 | $243K | ||
| Heat wave | 32.0 | $199K | ||
| Drought | 44.2 | $128K | ||
| Winter weather | 45.2 | $72K | ||
| Hurricane | 21.7 | $9K | ||
| Wildfire | 2.9 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 30.1 | $405 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Madison County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Ohio also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 282 storm reports in Madison County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $8.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 10, 1973.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 1973 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 10, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 28, 2024 | EF2 | Summerford | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1982 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1978 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 10, 1986 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Feb 28, 2024 | Tornado | Summerford | $1M |
| Apr 19, 1978 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 31, 1985 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 10, 1986 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 6, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Madison County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Madison County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 16,519 housing units.
Compare in Ohio
All 88 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | Inland flooding | |
| Cuyahoga County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| Summit County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Lucas County | Inland flooding | |
| Butler County | Inland flooding | |
| Stark County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 19 | |
| Greene County | 14 | |
| Clark County | 9 | |
| Union County | 11 | |
| Pickaway County | 13 | |
| Champaign County | 9 | |
| Fayette County | 9 |
Common questions about Madison County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Madison County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Madison County, about $6.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Madison County had?
Madison County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.
Is Madison County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 78th highest of 88 in Ohio. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Madison County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Madison County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Madison County had?
NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Madison County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 10, 1973. The weather service has also logged 64 hail reports and 24 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.